Tow truck

Abstract

An improved tow truck is provided which comprises a boom pivotally lowerable and raiseable between the truck frame. The boom is telescopic with a rearward end which is extendible, and when fully lowered and extended the rearward end is adjacent the ground and may lift a load, such as a disabled vehicle, about the vehicle wheels. The boom may be retracted and raised to bring the lifted load close to the rear axle of the tow truck.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a tow truck of the type having a longitudinally extending frame with front and rear end portions, first and second ground engaging members, the first ground engaging member being connected to the frame front end portion and the second ground engaging member having an axle mounted from the rear portion, the frame rear end portion including a pair of opposed sidewalls longitudinally extending above and along a forward and a rearward side of the axle, the sidewalls defining an upper surface for the rear end portion, the improvement comprising: a boom defining a forward end and a rearward end, the boom including an inner and an outer member, the inner member being slidable within the outer member, the outer member being pivotally connected to the frame at the boom forward end and defining a pivot point for the boom above the sidewall upper surfaces;   means for slidably moving and pivoting the boom between a first position and a second position, the rearward end of the boom being a first distance from the pivot point and adjacent the ground in the first position, the rearward end of the boom being a second distance from the pivot point, raised above the ground and closely adjacent said sidewall upper surfaces in the second position, the second distance being less than the first distance; and,   means for bracing the sidewalls adjacent the rearward side of the axle and for permitting the boom to be pivoted between the first and second positons.   
     
     
       2. A tow truck as in claim 1 further comprising: means for attaching the rearward end of the boom to wheels of a vehicle when the boom is in the first position.   
     
     
       3. The improved tow truck as in claim 2 wherein: the means for attaching includes a platform, the platform being mounted upon the boom rearward end and extending transverse thereto, the platform being of a construction sufficient to lift a vehicle from around wheels thereof when said boom is slidably moved and pivoted between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
       4. The improved tow truck as in claim 3 wherein: the means for slidably moving and pivoting and the boom together are adapted to retract the inner member of the boom a sufficient distance inwardly of the outer member to bring the platform adjacent the frame sidewalls along the rearward side of the axle when the boom is in the second position.   
     
     
       5. The improved tow truck as in claims 1 or 2 wherein: the means for bracing and for permitting includes a yoke structure, the yoke structure having a pair of yoke end portions connected between a tie-bar, the tie-bar defining a cavity between the yoke end portion, each of the yoke end portions fixedly attached to a respective each of the sidewalls, the cavity extending downwardly from the sidewalls a distance to be at least about in a horizontal plane of the axle.   
     
     
       6. An improved tow truck as in claim 4 wherein: the means for slidably moving and pivoting includes a first hydraulic cylinder mounted within the outer member of the boom; and,   the outer member is pivotally connected to the frame adjacent the forward side of the axle, the inner and outer members together being a load arm for the boom.   
     
     
       7. The improved tow truck as in claim 6 wherein: the means for slidably moving and pivoting includes a pair of second hydraulic cylinders, the second cylinders mounted on a respective each of the frame sidewalls, the mounting at a first end of the second cylinders adjacent the forward side of the axle, a second end of the second cylinders connected to the outer member of the boom.